About Numb Tongue
Key Highlights
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Provides complete pain relief during dental procedures.Allows for precise surgical work by eliminating patient movement due to discomfort.Patient remains awake and aware without feeling pain.Procedure is quick, typically taking only a few minutes to administer.Effects are temporary and wear off predictably within hours.
Who is this surgery for?
- Prior to surgical tooth extractions, especially of molars or wisdom teeth.
- During procedures involving the gums or bone on the lower jaw near the tongue.
- For biopsies or lesion removals on the tongue or floor of the mouth.
- As part of preparation for placing dental implants in the lower jaw.
- To facilitate any dental surgery where manipulation near the lingual nerve is required.
How to prepare
- Inform your dentist of all medications, supplements, and any allergies, especially to anesthetics.
- Disclose your full medical history, including any heart conditions or bleeding disorders.
- Avoid eating a heavy meal immediately before the procedure to prevent nausea.
- You may be advised to take prescribed antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication if indicated.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home if sedation is also being used alongside the local anesthetic.
Risks & possible complications
- Temporary or, very rarely, prolonged numbness (paresthesia) of the tongue.
- Minor bleeding or bruising at the injection site.
- Risk of infection, though extremely low with sterile technique.
- Accidental biting or burning of the numb tongue before sensation returns.
- Allergic reaction to the anesthetic agent (rare).
- Temporary difficulty with speech or swallowing.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Avoid eating or drinking hot foods/beverages until sensation fully returns to prevent burns.
- Be cautious when chewing to avoid accidentally biting your tongue or cheek.
- You may experience a tingling or 'pins and needles' sensation as the numbness wears off.
- Any minor soreness at the injection site usually resolves within a day or two.
- Contact your dentist immediately if numbness persists beyond 24 hours or if you experience significant swelling or pain.
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Typical hospital stay: 0 days (Outpatient)
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Expected recovery time: 1-2 days
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering numb tongue in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with dental surgery departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform numb tongue. MediFyr helps you compare dental surgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for numb tongue compare across other countries where we have data.
James Sharma, a 42-year-old software engineer,...
James Sharma, a 42-year-old software engineer, had been struggling with a persistent, sharp pain on the left side of his tongue for three weeks. The pain, which felt like a burning or electric shock, was triggered by eating, especially spicy or acidic foods, and made his high-pressure job even more stressful. His dentist, after a thorough examination, found no visible lesions but suspected a condition called glossodynia, possibly linked to nerve irritation or a small, hidden oral ulcer. To allow the area to heal and break the pain cycle, the dentist recommended a topical numbing gel followed by a short-acting local anesthetic injection to completely numb the affected part of his tongue for 24 hours. James was anxious, worried the numbness would feel strange and affect his speech. During the procedure, the initial gel was cold and tingling, and the injection was a quick, minor pinch. The profound numbness that followed was odd but a immense relief from the constant pain. Over the next day, as sensation returned normally, the original burning pain was significantly reduced. James felt a wave of gratitude and optimism; the temporary 'reset' provided the relief he desperately needed and allowed him to eat and speak comfortably again.
Dental surgeons for Numb Tongue
Explore experienced dental surgeons who regularly perform numb tongue and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 31 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 24 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 24 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 15 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 11 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 8 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
- 4 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 4 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 13 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 10 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 8 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
KMC Hospital Mangalore, Mangalore
- 9 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 23 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 20 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospitals Broadway, Kolkata
- 9 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 21 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 26 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 22 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Siliguri, Siliguri
- 7 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata